Somerset students raise funds for American Heart Association

North Elementary School raises more than $7K in the American Heart Association’s “Jump Rope for Heart.”

Michael Holtzman Herald News Staff Reporter @MDHoltzman

SOMERSET — There are prizes, like a pair of Boston Celtics tickets.

Sheryl Bastian’s top class won an extra gym period and Crystal Borges’ runner-up had extra recess.

The top fundraisers from each class got to sign a banner during physical education class to show their prowess.

Overall, North Elementary School’s participation by its entire student body resulted in a whopping $7,193.83 being raised in the American Heart Association’s “Jump Rope for Heart.”

The annual fun event is a chance for students to jump rope, learn about their heart and how to stay healthy, and to raise research and education funds for the AHA.

North students taught by physical education teachers Colleen Munce and Julie Wells went to a dozen different stations in gym class for exercises and learning related to the topic. They rotated after a minute or so to the next station activity.

Having raised just over $4,000 a year ago, Principal Elaine Sabra said their aim this year was to top $5,000. But North had a secret weapon and a special cause that helped the elementary school scale greater heights.

When third-grader Alessandra “Ally” Ferrara told her classmates after the Feb. 10-14 contest was completed that she’d raised $1,130, they had this reaction:

“They thought I was crazy,” beamed Ally, standing in the school library Monday after another North event, the “Read Across America” in remembrance of Dr. Seuss.

Ally said many of her relatives from her large family donated. No other class at North raised as much as she did.

But most of all she was motivated to collect and help the AHA “in honor of a little boy.”

Ally knows about 4-year-old Dylan who has the congenital condition HLHS, or Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. It means the left side of the heart is underdeveloped.

“I am super proud of Ally for taking the initiative to do her fundraising in his honor,” said her mom in a message. She said their family’s story is really about Dylan “being a Heart hero.”

The Boston Celtics partnered with the AHA, and Ally’s top total earned her a pair of tickets. A second pair went into a lottery of students that raised at least $20, and second-grader Carson Dorego was the lucky winner.

Another noteworthy contributor was Reese Swanson, a third-grader who raised more than $600.

Districtwide, participating K-8 schools raised more than $17,000 for the Heart Association through the jump rope and Hoops for Heart fundraisers. They were:

• South Elementary School, $4,722, and Wilbur Elementary School, more than $2,200, with physical education teacher Eric Shaw the coordinator. Anyone raising $5 or more received a lanyard and a duck to put on it, and those raising more and with online fundraising received up to six ducks and school bragging rights.